Respite care is a short stay in a care home, planned or arranged at short notice, for someone who normally lives at home. It is usually booked so that the person caring for them can have a break, recover from their own illness, or simply sleep properly for a fortnight.
The practical bit is straightforward. The awkward bit is that most family carers feel they are failing by asking.
Why it is worth arranging
Caring for someone at home is relentless in a way that is hard to describe to anyone who has not done it. Carers who never get a break tend to reach a point where they cannot continue at all, and the decision then gets made in a crisis rather than calmly. A week or two of respite, taken regularly, is often what keeps someone at home for longer.
What a respite stay includes
- A single room, prepared as it would be for a permanent resident
- All meals, laundry and refreshments
- The full activities programme
- Support with washing, dressing and medication
- A registered nurse on duty around the clock
It also works as a trial
Plenty of people book respite with no intention of staying, and then decide the home suits them better than they expected. A short stay is a low risk way to find out what a place is really like, without committing to anything. Some people do the reverse and confirm they would rather be at home, which is just as useful to know.
Arranging one
We take planned respite bookings and, where we have a room free, emergency ones. A short assessment happens first so we know we can meet the person’s needs. Call 01752 846 335 to talk it through.